“That isn’t necessary.” She waved her hand dismissively. “It can wait until tonight. I’m sure the phone will have enough of a charge before nightfall, I hope.”
It would take a few hours to charge the battery, but it would be usable within the hour. The solar charger was top of the line commercial grade used by our team. It wasn’t something you could pick up off the shelf of a store. I had used it countless times on Eagle Tactical missions when I was in the field and didn’t have easy access to an accessible outlet.
“Use my phone,” I insisted and pushed my phone at her.
She glanced over at the device. Her tongue darted out to the corner of her lips. Was she debating whether to call her sister in front of me? Had she wanted the call to be private, and I had overstepped her boundaries? She didn’t say a word, just held the phone in her hand. “I can sit with Izzie and give you some privacy.” There wasn’t a ton of privacy in the cabin. It was one large room, like a studio style setup.
“It’s not that. I don’t have her phone number memorized,” she said, her cheeks red.
Was she embarrassed about not knowing the number offhand? While I could recant every phone number for my military buddies, they were like family to me. Had her sister’s number recently changed, and she hadn’t had time to memorize it?
She handed me back my cell phone. “I’m sure she can wait a few more hours. It’s only been a day.” Ariella didn’t sound the least bit concerned about calling her sister later.
I held my tongue, not wanting to make a scene. If she didn’t remember the number, there were ways I could help, I had resources and connections through Eagle Tactical, but I wasn’t sure that was what she wanted. I didn’t want to push her and make her uncomfortable. “If it were someone I cared about and hadn’t heard from them, I’d be concerned,” I said.
I didn’t elaborate that I’d probably have unleashed the entire task force of Eagle Tactical to go looking for that person. We were different. She had moved to the middle of nowhere, with no connections. Was it possible she and her sister weren’t close?
“Daddy, I have to go potty!” Izzie squealed from the sofa and stood on the couch cushions.
I shot her a look of warning that she better sit her butt down or stand on the floor. Isabella knew that jumping on beds and couches was not allowed. The little tyrant did whatever she damned well pleased half the time, though. Being a single dad wasn’t easy.
“I think that’s my queue to take her home,” I said.
“She can use the bathroom here,” Ariella offered. “I have indoor plumbing.”
“You’re welcome for that,” I half-joked. I had been responsible, along with my military buddies, for setting up indoor plumbing. While we hooked up the indoor plumbing and PVC inside and under the floorboards, we’d also hired a licensed plumber who doubled as an excavator to hook up to the sewer line. “I’m going to take her back home, let her use the little kid potty, and then put her down for a nap.”
“No nap!” Izzie exclaimed, jumping on the sofa.
“Sit your butt down!” I scolded her. She knew better and was testing my limits or showing off for Ariella. Perhaps it was a bit of both. Pretty soon, she’d meltdown without an afternoon nap. It was only a matter of time. She’d done well today, but I couldn’t depend on her lasting through dinner.
Izzie went from a standing position on the sofa to jumping into a sitting position. “Potty, Daddy!”
“Do you mind if we use your bathroom?”
Izzie followed me to the small private bathroom, and I helped her before she climbed off the toilet and ran past me with her pants down. “Oh, my gosh. You child will be the death of me,” I muttered, flushing the toilet before washing my hands. I stepped out of the bathroom, and Ariella was bent down to Izzie’s level, helping her pull her pants back up. Thank you, I mouthed to her.
She smiled and nodded.
“Come on, Izzie.” I grabbed her coat and helped her get her arms into the sleeves while she thrashed about, not wanting to go home.
“No nap!” she squealed.
I groaned and tried to control my temper. Isabella was tired, and I hadn’t kept to her routine. It was my fault she was behaving like a rambunctious toddler. “We need to leave Ariella here. Say goodbye.” I slid one arm into her sleeve and worked on the other arm before she slid her arm back out.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, I’m sure you have this handled, but she could nap on my bed,” Ariella offered.
I shot a glance at her over my shoulder.
“I mean, I need to learn to chop firewood. If you don’t mind giving me a hand, she could stay inside and nap in my bed,” she repeated.
It wasn’t the worst idea, and Izzie seemed to go for it, nodding vigorously with bright wide doe-like eyes.
“That still means you need a nap, little miss,” I said, pointing at Izzie.
She slipped her coat off, scooted past me, and ran from the queen-sized mattress. I tucked her under the covers while Ariella closed the curtains, making the cabin darker. Quietly I headed to the front door and waited for Ariella to put her coat and shoes on. A few minutes later, we were outside, just the two of us.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped,” Ariella said, quick to apologize. “I know you have a routine, and I just thought I might help.” She looked flustered and nervous. Was she worried I’d yell at her?